Thanksgiving-ish

Tuesday, November 26, 2013
1 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving week, fellow Americans!

This past week has been rather dreary, which is surprising being in Southern California. Alas, I've had to break out the tights and layers of sweaters as if it's been just another Eastern autumn. Luckily, today seems sunny side up, and I'm a bit hot in my cardigan and long-sleeved shirt.

Despite all of the weather problems and the exchanges (when your companion is a sister training leader, it happens. A lot.) I've been grand.

Last week we had the most beautiful surprise waiting on our doorstep after our jaunt in the morning cold. Fresh-squeezed orange juice! If you have the means, I highly recommend getting your paws on some and drinking it immediately. It is so darn good!

Another blessing of the week was sushi! We went on exchanges with Sister Farr, one of my MTC companions, and she, Sister Lemon and I all decided to take advantage of the situation and treat ourselves. It was so delicious, I could barely believe my tastebuds.

We've had fun adventures and not-so-fun adventures, but at least every week is a new start for us. Church is so refreshing after a cold, rainy string of days. We get to be spiritually fed, renew our covenants with Heavenly Father, and simply just be around comrades in the Gospel.

So, here's to a happy Thanksgiving week for everyone. Don't forget to thank God for all of the blessings He's given you; check out Doctrine and Covenants 78:17-19 for a Thanksgiving message. (Spoiler: gratitude=even more blessings.)

1 comment:

Dear Sister B:I was exploring around the internet, looking for fellow comrades in the gospel, and found your Mormon.org profile. I have to say, the way you wrote your testimony was as humble, kind, and unmovable as ever I’ve seen one. It was a true testimony. Something I think many people miss, both in and out of the gospel, is that people can disagree and still get along. I have a best friend who’s Wicken—a nature worshipping people who believe in a goddess and in serving the land as their primary calling. We both bond over the belief that we are stewards over the earth, and I appreciate that she chooses to believe something instead of going through life in a bland and apathetic state, while she appreciates the kindness being a Mormon has taught me to have. Neither of us agrees fully with the other, but we appreciate the goodness in what the other believes while never sacrificing or apologizing for what we believe.

It may seem random to have shared that, but your testimony reminded me of that truth. Never apologize for what you believe, but speak in kindness and understanding nevertheless. It’s the balance between tolerance and belief that we all have to straddle. Thank you for reminding me of that, and thank you for serving a mission and spreading such a balanced and powerful testimony further.